Firma and Bee, Y14 January

[Sussy]

Affirmed Goddess & Beyond Perfection
Y14, January Beach Work-Out.

It was against the young adults nature to over-work a filly so young, and so Firma’s training had been minimal. Recently broken to saddle, the chestnut yearling was doing quite well with her introduction to the racing world. She had been for a canter around the track before with one of the old-timers, but today it was going to be a little different. Ella had walked the trail along the quiet GHF roads, Firma’s reins clasped comfortably in her hands; not wanting to ride the growing filly on roads or hard ground, while her skeleton and tendons were still so weak. Beside her, Marion, Ella’s mother, would ride Beyond Perfection; attempting to use the older stallion as reassurance for the fillies first time at the beach. Not that he was much help, the dark thoroughbred had spent most of the trek jogging and flirting with the small yearling- “Cradle snatcher,” Ella laughed as he would crane his neck towards the young chestnut, Marion doing her all to keep him at bay.

It was about 10am by the time the horses first stepped foot upon the pale sands of the beach, Firma undeniably interested in the wonderland of roll-worthy surfaces. She would begin to paw almost immediately, the rider duo laughing alongside her efforts, before pushing her on again. Waves! The chestnut froze as soon as they rounded the crest, lashing waves, however calm today, were certainly a good excuse to play giraffe; the yearling stretching to full height as her skull would rocket upwards, nostrils flaring as she grew wide-eyed at her unfamiliar surroundings. Regardless of her tension, she was doing quite well, and so Ella would pull herself into the saddle confidently, flashing a smile at her mother before the duo would begin to trot down the opposite end of the beach.

It took some time to ease the horses into the gentle waves, knee deep; and quite surprisingly, it was Bee as opposed to Firma who was the most nervous. Bee had been swimming many times, and yet waves still seemed to tamper with his confidence. The dark stallion stood rigid as they lipped at his cannons, while Firma seemed to be somewhat enjoying herself; pushing her muzzle under the water and flipping her head backwards and forwards. They allowed the pair to investigate for a moment, before the mother/daughter team would strive to push them forwards, starting with a gradual trot through the shallow water, and moving up to a heavy canter. They completed the stretch of the beach in this fashion, enjoying the cooling off, despite Bee’s attempts to inch closer to the shore. At the other end of the beach, they would then turn, and with a few moments of lining them up (and an extra minute or two of yearling education) the dark stallion and his red companion would be pushed off at a moderate gallop, heaving through the sand. Obviously, Bee was held back somewhat, keeping him close to Firma’s side for the duration of the stretch.